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Ramona Lee Leake entered into eternal rest on Friday, January 3, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 92.
Ramona was born on August 24, 1932, in Humansville, Missouri, the daughter of Clyde Rufus Earnest and Edith Marie (Durbin) Earnest. Ramona spent her young life attending to the family farm alongside her parents and brother and sister. Her school days were spent in the Humansville Public School which consisted of one building. She participated in the school band, playing the flugelhorn, sang with the Glee Club and chorus, and cheered her school on during sporting events. She graduated with the class of 1950 with honors. Following high school, Ramona worked on call 24/7 as a floor nurse and surgical nurse at George Dimmit Memorial Hospital in Humansville.
While attending a revival at Ramona's home church in Humansville, she met her future husband. Leonard was visiting the Christian Church's minister and family who had just moved from Cleveland, Oklahoma, which was Leonard's hometown. Thus, the introduction was made through mutual friends, and the long distance romance began. Leonard proposed on Christmas day in 1952.
They were united in marriage on May 24, 1953, in Humansville, Missouri.
While traveling to Colorado Springs and surrounding areas for their honeymoon, they stayed in the Ramona Hotel, climbed the Seven Falls, (one which was Ramona Falls) and other interesting sights. Thus, beginning their 70 years of a beautiful life together. Their tradition of drinking a strawberry and chocolate milkshake began on their wedding day and continued on every wedding anniversary.
Ramona and Leonard established their first home in Joplin, Missouri where Leonard was a student at Ozark Bible College. Ramona worked alongside Leonard during his ministry of 65 years and beyond. Their ministry took them to many churches in Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas. She enjoyed teaching during Bible studies, Bible school, VBS, singing with the choirs and cooking delicious meals for potlucks.
Ramona had many jobs during her life. She worked as a private duty nurse while living in Joplin, Missouri. While living in Chetopa, Kansas, she worked at Conard's Pecan Factory, which her children thought was the most fun to visit. She also worked at Hagberg's Ben Franklin and Hagberg's Gifts in Cleveland. This gave her the opportunity to use her creativity, teaching classes in cake decorating, candy making, and silk flower designs. The opportunity to be back in the medical field came while living in Cleveland, also. She was a transcriptionist and officer manager for several different doctors. Ramona and Leonard's path led them to Yellowstone National Park where they worked at the Old Faithful area. They also lead church services and devotionals in the park. During this time, they were given the opportunity to travel throughout the beautiful mountainous areas, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
Her creativity was unending. She was a seamstress, artist, cook, baker, crafter and had a "green thumb". Reading was a favorite pastime. Her Bible was always open but more importantly, read and studied and shared. All of her babies, big and little, were her precious gifts.
Ramona is survived by her daughter, Kathy Leake Sizemore and husband, Jerry, of Cleveland, Oklahoma; son, Larry Leake and wife, Diana, of Douglas, Wyoming; son, Dean Leake and wife, Holly, of North Ogden, Utah; son, David Leake of Worland, Wyoming; daughter-in-law, Wanda Leake of Lake Charles, Louisiana; brother-in-law, Corky Leake and wife Pat of Cleveland, Oklahoma; twenty five grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Ramona was preceded in death by her husband, Ora Leonard Leake, Jr; oldest son, Gary Leake; two grandsons, Jacob and Joshua Leake; brother, Darwin Earnest and his wife, Mary; and sister, Sue Carol Killion and her husband, Ben.
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